POLICE ON COALFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20465, 17 January 1930, Page 11

POLICE ON COALFIELDS.

LULL IN SITUATION.

RUDE SHOCK FOR MINERS.

FOOD ORDERS CANCELLED.

STREET ORATORS DISAPPEAR.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,

(Received January 16, 10.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 16

The shock tactics adopted by the police on the coalfields yesterday have had the effect of producing a lull in the activities there.

However, tho polico are taking no chances. More motor vehicles for their use have been sent to the district and others are to be shipped from Sydney to Newcastle this week.

The question of using wireless is now being considered by the authorities. They believe that transmission sots at strategic points would strengthen their organisation.

Gone for the time being is the Labour Defence Corps. Nor is it possible to discover large bodies of idle miners in any of the streets on the principal coalfields where hitherto their massing and speechmaking have been daily occurrences. The police think the miners may now turn their attention to Rothbury, where (he defences and flood lighting are most elaborate.

Two hundred miners received a rude shock to-day when they learned that their food orders had been cancelled at Karri. Some of the men protested, arguing that they had taken no part in lawless demonstrations. Their protestations were of no avail. At Melbourne' to-day the High Court reserved judgment in the appeal against Mr. Justice Beeby's award ordering a resumption of work in the coalmines afc prestoppage rates of pay. VIOLENCE CONDEMNED. DISGRACE TO AUSTRALIA. SCULLIN'S EFFORTS FOR PEACE. SYDNEY, Jan. 16. The Premier of New South Wales. Mr. T. R. Bavin, and the Minister of Mines, Mr. R. W. D. -Weaver, state that volunteers may shortly be called for a special constabulary to co-operate with the police on the coalfields. Mr. Bavin is to leave for Melbourne this evening to discuss with the Prime Minister, Mr. J. H. Scullin, the question of suppressing the so-called Labour Defence Corps. Ten of the 21 miners' lodges in the west have passed resolutions in favour of an " all out" policy. Other lodges are expected to adopt a similar course.

In addressing a deputation of miners at Melbourne Mr. Scullin said: "I still believe that force used by any side will not bring a solution of this vexed problem. I firmly believe that a just settlement can be arrived at along the lines of conciliation. lam making a further effort in that direction."

Dispensing with conferences Mr. Scullin has initiated discussions with the leading coalmine owners with the object of preventing further trouble' on the coalfields. In his broadcast speech last evening Mr. Bavin said the miners' demonstrations could be described only as civil war on the community. This warfare had been characterised by acts of brutality which had disgraced Australia throughout the world.

Attributing the trouble entirely to militants, revolutionaries and Communists the Premier said it had revealed violence and savagery unparalleled in the history of New South Wales, except during the timber workers' strike, when the same influences had been in operation.